Changes in Shashi Tharoor due to understanding people's interests: Suresh Gopi
Thrissur (Kerala), Jun 20 (PTI): Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi on Friday said that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has to decide whether he wants to join the BJP and the changes seen in him were the outcome of understanding the people's interests.
The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism also said that worshipping Bharat Mata was akin to worship of the goddess earth.
Gopi was responding to reporters' queries regarding Tharoor and the ongoing Bharat Mata-related row between Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the state government.
On queries regarding whether Tharoor would join the BJP, the union minister said that he cannot act as a "catalyst" for it as the Congress MP has to decide whether he wants to join the saffron party.
When he was asked whether there was any change in Tharoor's stance, Gopi said that it was not a mere change.
"It was a necessity desired by the people. It is a change that has come from understanding the people's interests," the BJP leader said.
Regarding the practice of appointment of personal staff by the ministers of the ruling government, Gopi said that not only did he disagree with it, he was totally opposed to it.
He contended that while various other pensions were not being paid, those appointed as personal staff for a couple of years were getting all kinds of benefits and huge salaries, which was "wrong".
"That is wrong. Let them (personal staff) be paid salaries for their work. But giving them all the other benefits, that should be banned," Gopi said.
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
